‘How are you enjoying working at the restaurant?’ Dominic asked.
‘Very much.’ Andie was relieved. Work should be a safe topic. ‘Everyone’s so nice, and helpful.’
He nodded. ‘You’re doing well, Tang and Cosmo both have good things to say about you.’
‘Oh, that’s nice.’
Couldn’t she think of another word than ‘nice’? Hold on, what was that he just said? They reported to him about her? He was interested?
‘They’re both such great guys,’ said Andie.
Great guys? She sounded like a teenage girl. They were her superiors, her mentors, they were professionals, not ‘great guys’. Well, they were great guys, but . . . Why wasn’t he saying anything? Because he thought she was a twit probably. God, this was some kind of endurance test. Andie took another gulp of her wine. Keep talking about work, say something intelligent, or at least sensible . . . even fawning would do.
‘I haven’t had a chance to thank you,’ she said.
‘That isn’t necessary,’ said Dominic. ‘I was only concerned you were all right, that he wasn’t bothering you.’
What was he talking about? ‘No one’s bothering me,’ she assured him. ‘Like I said, everyone’s been great.’
‘Oh . . .’ He looked slightly thrown. ‘What were you thanking me for?’
‘For the second chance,’ she explained. ‘For giving me another trial.’
‘Of course,’ he nodded.
‘What did you think I was talking about?’
He shrugged. ‘Nothing, it doesn’t matter.’ He picked up his glass and took a drink. ‘It’s none of my business anyway.’
Then it hit Andie. He thought she was referring to the scene in the carpark with Ross.
‘Oh, of course, I do want to thank you for that as well,’ she said. ‘You know, what happened, that night, with my husband . . . my ex-husband.’
‘It isn’t necessary, really,’ he said, staring down at the table again.
This strain between them was such a . . . a strain. Andie didn’t think she could take much more of this. She decided to be more upfront.
‘No,’ she said firmly, ‘I think it is necessary. I should apologise for bringing my private life to work like that.’
He met her gaze then. ‘You didn’t bring it, it seemed to me it came looking for you.’
‘Hm,’ she nodded. ‘Ross, my ex, well, he’s not my ex yet . . .’
‘Oh?’
‘Only a matter of time,’ she dismissed. ‘It’s in the hands of the lawyers as we speak. Well, probably not as we speak, it is Christmas Day after all.’
She smiled, but he didn’t. She probably shouldn’t make jokes about a pending divorce. Another faux pas. Andie wondered if he was keeping count.
‘Anyway,’ she went on, ‘the thing is, Ross showed up that night because he was upset I’d been to a lawyer. He’d been hoping it wouldn’t come to that.’
‘It’s really none of my business,’ said Dominic.
Fine.
‘So you’re the one ending it?’ he asked.
And now it was his business.
‘In a manner of speaking,’ said Andie. ‘I’m ending it because he had an affair. Is still having an affair, as far as I know.’
He looked faintly embarrassed. Too much information for him? God, she had no idea what to do with this conversation.
‘I’m sorry,’ he said finally.
‘What for?’ Andie wasn’t following him.
He hesitated. ‘Well . . . for your loss, I suppose,’ he said. ‘I’m not sure how to put it.’
‘Oh, thanks.’
‘Were you happy?’ he asked.
‘I thought we were.’
‘No, I asked if you were happy.’
She looked at him. ‘Sure. I thought we’d be together forever.’
‘So you have no idea why he decided to have an affair?’
She shrugged. ‘Why does any man?’
‘Or woman. I don’t think it’s gender-exclusive.’
‘Still, I think men may have the jump on it, statistically,’ Andie said wryly.
‘Not any more. Statistically, women are catching up.’
What? Did he make a study of this?
‘So you really don’t know why your husband had an affair?’ said Dominic, returning to his original question.
‘No, I don’t,’ she said tightly. She didn’t like his tone. ‘What are you implying?’
He looked abashed. ‘Nothing, it’s none of my business.’
No, it wasn’t.
‘Only, I was wondering what you think about the theory that an affair is only likely to happen in a marriage that’s already troubled?’
She glared at him. ‘What exactly are you trying to say?’
‘Nothing, really,’ he said. ‘I didn’t mean anything by it.’
‘You think it was my fault somehow?’
‘No —’
‘Look, you can say whatever you like to me at work where you’re the boss,’ said Andie, flustered. ‘But I don’t think you have the right to ask me out for a drink and then . . . insult me.’
‘That wasn’t my intention, I assure you,’ he said.
She felt like sculling the rest of her wine, but she wouldn’t give him any more ammunition against her. So she took a sedate sip and pushed her glass aside, standing up.
‘I have to go, thanks for the drink,’ she said, picking up her bag and heading for the exit. She felt rattled, and embarrassed. Why would he jump to the conclusion that there was something wrong with her marriage? And why did that bother her?
He caught up to her at the door and held it open as she strode out past him.
‘Andie, wait,’ he said, stepping out onto the footpath.
She turned around, but fixed her gaze down the street, away from him. He didn’t say anything, so after a while Andie stole a glance at him. He was just standing there looking bewildered.
‘Look, I really do have to go,’ she said.
He stirred. ‘Can I walk you to your car?’
‘No, I’ll be fine.’ She could not figure him out. ‘Thanks again for the drink.’ She turned on her heel and started down the street, in the opposite direction they had come from. She’d have to retrace her steps later, but that was preferable to spending any more time in his company. What an arrogant, opinionated prig he’d turned out to be . . . wait, he’d always been.
When she finally made it back to her car, Andie took out her phone and texted Jess to see where she was. She didn’t want to go home to the empty house and sit there stewing about this, which she knew she would. She was hoping things might have wrapped up for Jess and they could meet for a drink.
Her phone eventually beeped in response, and she picked it up off the passenger seat to read the message.
Still @ mums! Come rescue me!
Jess had apparently been drinking since late morning, so she was in no state to drive herself home, and she had Buckley’s of getting a cab, deep in suburban Concord on Christmas Day. It was looking like she was going to have to stay the night, so Andie’s message came at the right time. Jess gave her strict instructions not to enter the premises, as she may never make it out again. Andie was worried that might seem rude, but Jess reassured her that no one would even notice, that she should just prank her phone when she arrived, and Jess would come out.
‘So how was your day?’ asked Andie as they drove away down the street.
‘Oh, the usual, too much food, way too much Christmas cheer. I’m all familied out,’ she groaned, throwing her head back. ‘Who invented families, honestly? We should all be born in pods, like in that movie . . . with that guy . . . oh, you know the one, he has absolutely no expression, his face is a blank.’
‘The Matrix,’ said Andie.
‘Yeah, but what’s his name again?’
‘Keanu Reeves.’
‘That’s it.’ She seemed relieved. ‘So what were we talking about?’
Andie glan
ced at her with a smile. ‘I have no idea.’
Jess smiled back. ‘So, tell me, how did it go at the shelter?’
‘It was great, really,’ she said. ‘I’m so glad I did it, thanks for giving me the push.’
‘Pleasure,’ she slurred.
‘A funny thing happened, though.’
‘Oh?’
‘Guess who showed up there today?’
‘Not Ross!’ Jess exclaimed, sitting bolt upright.
‘No,’ Andie scoffed. ‘As if Ross would set foot in a place like that. No, it was my boss, Dominic Gerou.’
‘Seriously?’
Andie nodded.
‘What was he doing there? Not looking for a feed, I hope?’
That made her laugh. ‘No, he was volunteering as well. Apparently he’s been doing it for years.’
‘Hm . . . small world,’ Jess murmured sleepily.
Andie was beginning to wonder if she’d have company tonight after all. ‘Where do you want to go, Jess?’
‘Oh, just home,’ she said. ‘I have all those leftovers Mum gave me. We’ll be all set.’
Andie couldn’t get much out of Jess for the rest of the drive back to her flat, she dozed most of the way. Maybe she would have to go home by herself after all, it was no less depressing an option than bunking down at Jess’s place if she was only going to crash as soon as they got there. But Andie couldn’t help feeling disappointed. She wanted to talk to Jess about what happened today. She knew exactly what she’d say – that Dominic was an arrogant wanker and she should just ignore him – but Andie needed to hear her say it. Fortunately, Jess seemed to get a second wind from the car to her flat, and once inside she buzzed around the tiny kitchen, putting out leftovers and opening wine.
‘So, you know how I was telling you that my boss was there today?’ Andie began.
‘Yep.’
‘Well, he asked me out for a drink afterwards.’
Jess turned to look at her. ‘He asked you out? And you didn’t go?’
‘No, I did go.’
‘Then how are you here now?’
‘We only had one drink. I didn’t even finish mine,’ said Andie.
‘Why, what happened?’
‘He’s just so arrogant,’ she said, feeling her hackles rise again.
‘He’s a chef,’ Jess shrugged, like that was a given.
‘He asked me out for a drink, and then all he did was lecture me.’
‘About your job?’
‘No, no, that’s all fine.’ Though how she was going to face him at work again, she had no idea. ‘We got to talking about my marriage break-up . . . breakdown . . . ups and downs.’
Jess frowned as she passed Andie a glass of wine. ‘What on earth made you go into that murky territory?’
‘I was thanking him for the way he stepped in when Ross showed up at work that night.’
‘What the hell?’ Jess looked shocked.
‘Didn’t I tell you about that?’
‘Tell me about what?’
‘It’s not a big deal,’ Andie dismissed. ‘It was a few weeks ago now. Ross waited in the carpark after work to talk to me, because I hadn’t been answering his calls. Anyway, Dominic happened to come out of the restaurant just as Ross was getting a little . . . worked up.’
‘What was he doing?’ Jess’s voice rose along with her heightened imagination.
‘Nothing, honestly. I thought I told you all this?’
‘No,’ she said airily, ‘you never tell me anything any more.’
Andie ignored that. ‘Back to today . . .’
‘So you’re really not going to tell me what happened with Ross?’
‘It’s not important. In fact, I haven’t even seen him since then —’ It was true, she realised as she said it. He’d finally got the hint and backed off – for good, Andie hoped. ‘It’s all in the hands of the lawyers now.’
‘Well, that’s something,’ said Jess. She picked up her glass and a platter of food and walked into the living area. ‘So what about this Dominic?’ she said, sitting down on the sofa. ‘You two are on first name basis now?’
‘Not really,’ said Andie, taking a seat next to her. ‘He started asking me all these intrusive questions, and next thing he’s implying that I must have done something to make Ross go off and have an affair.’
Jess blinked. ‘He actually said that?’
‘Yes.’ Kind of. Something like that. That was the inference anyway. Wasn’t it? God, she didn’t even know any more.
‘What a prick,’ said Jess. ‘He doesn’t even know you.’
‘I know, right?’
‘Where does he get off?’
‘Exactly.’ Andie felt so much better already. She gulped down half her glass of wine, at least Jess wouldn’t have a dig at her drinking habits. Clearly Dominic Gerou had issues left and right. Andie didn’t have any issues, she knew exactly what had destroyed her marriage. Her husband had an affair. That was that. Dominic obviously empathised more with Ross because he was a man. He’d probably dumped a string of women with the same excuse – that there was something wrong with the relationship. Piffle. Jess was right. ‘Arrogant prick,’ she said out loud.
‘You didn’t say that to him?’ Jess looked worried.
‘No,’ she chided. ‘I said something like, he didn’t have the right to insult me, and I walked out.’
‘On your boss?’
Andie’s heart dropped. ‘Oh shit.’
‘Don’t worry about it,’ said Jess. ‘He can’t do anything to you – it was outside of work.’
‘You think?’
‘You didn’t abuse him or anything?’
Andie thought about it. ‘No, definitely not. I thanked him for the drink and left.’
‘You’ll be okay then.’
Andie sighed, resting her chin in her hand. ‘You know, during the day I actually thought I might have made a good impression on him.’
‘Obviously, if he asked you out,’ said Jess.
‘He didn’t ask me out out,’ said Andie. ‘It was just end-of-the-day, coworker-type drinks.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Yes,’ she said uncertainly. ‘I don’t know, how can you tell?’
‘You’ve been out of the game a long time, haven’t you?’ Jess smiled.
‘No, I’m sure this wasn’t anything,’ Andie decided. ‘He’s not like that. He doesn’t even hang around at work for staffy’s.’
‘Yet this was only a friendly coworker drink with you?’ Jess raised an eyebrow.
‘It had to be,’ she insisted. ‘Think about it, if he was coming on to me, he had a funny way of showing it. Throwing insults at me about my marriage failing.’
‘Hm . . . that is weird,’ Jess mused. ‘Anyway, it’s just as well, fraternising with the boss is never a good idea.’
‘Don’t worry, I won’t be doing that again in a hurry.’
‘Though, I have been meaning to say,’ Jess went on, ‘you really should be thinking about getting back on the horse, Andie.’
She rolled her eyes and leaned her head back against the sofa.
‘I’m serious,’ said Jess. ‘Put it off and it’s only going to get harder. When’s the last time you had sex?’
Andie frowned. ‘When’s the last time you had sex?’
‘About two weeks ago.’
‘Oh, well, it’s longer than that.’
‘It’s months, isn’t it?’ said Jess. ‘You know, if you were a guy, you’d have gone out and picked up someone the very next weekend, if not the next night, to salve your ego.’
‘Well, I’m not a guy.’
‘You still have needs. You said so yourself.’
‘The ink isn’t even dry on my divorce papers, Jess . . . Come to think of it, the divorce papers haven’t even been printed yet. I’m just not ready.’
‘So you’re not over Ross?’
‘I doubt it.’
‘Andie!’ Jess exclaimed.
‘I’m only being
honest,’ she returned. ‘I’m not pining for him, I have no intention of going back to him. But I guess on some level I must still love him. Feelings don’t go away overnight, they need time to fade.’
‘Hm, like a rash.’ Jess grunted. ‘Surely there must be a cream for that?’
Andie snorted a laugh. ‘Yeah, vanishing cream, perhaps?’
‘What was vanishing cream anyway?’ said Jess. ‘You never hear of it any more. I wish it was still around, I could use it on my nether regions instead of boiling wax.’
Andie winced. ‘So you went through with it?’
‘No,’ she sighed. ‘You two made me feel like I’d be betraying the sisterhood if I did. But when I’m still single in the nursing home, I’ll be cursing you.’
Andie considered her. ‘I didn’t think you were that bothered about being single.’
Jess shrugged. ‘I don’t know, maybe I’m getting a bit old for one-nighters, or the one-nighters are getting a bit old.’
‘Are you telling me you want to settle down?’ Andie was almost shocked.
‘I’m never going to be bored, or old, or crazy enough to get married,’ she declared. ‘But you know, it wouldn’t be so bad to have a regular guy, someone you could hang out with on a wet afternoon and watch a DVD, someone you could actually have a conversation with . . . someone just . . . nice.’
‘Isn’t that what gay friends are for?’ said Andie.
‘Yeah, but they don’t like to have sex with girls.’
‘Like I always say, you can’t have it all.’
Boxing Day
Andie slept pretty soundly on Jess’s fold-out, but she woke earlier than she would have preferred on a day off, the street noises around here being somewhat more intrusive than in quiet suburban Roseville. She only had a mild hangover, nothing that a good hot breakfast wouldn’t fix, so she went to check out the refrigerator. Not only was it brimming with leftovers from Christmas, there were also eggs and onions and herbs and good cheese – you could always find decent basics in a chef’s fridge. When Jess finally emerged, Andie had almost finished cooking a ham and cheese frittata, with a hash she’d made from leftover baked potatoes. Together they made short work of it. It was warming up outside, and they briefly mused about going to the beach, until they remembered that Boxing Day was probably the most popular beach day of the year, and the crowds would be horrendous. Andie decided she better just head back to the house.
The Secret Ingredient Page 24